Planning on rejuvinating an old friend this winter. She runs great with a newly rebuilt street ported 13B with Delortto Sidedraft Carb.

After driving my 3 Series BMW, the RX7 brakes are worse than I remembered.

I have a '79 SA with a Mazda Speed Racing LSD, kinda want to keep it, tho it is a bit clunky, noisy, but it is made for a 79. Still have the stock "79 front struts and rear drum brakes. Am I stuck with using a 4 bolt wheel because of the axle size? I see disc brake conversions with 4 and five bolt patterns but believe I would lose the diff if I go five bolt.

Right now I still have 13" wheels and Yokohama A001 Tires. They won't last a lot longer not to mention they gotta be a bit stale.

I have a four bolt disc braked axle assembly in my shed, but don't know which car it came from. When I bought it from a knowlegable RX guy, I was told it is a stock SE LSD and was told the axle would bolt right in. However his former partner tells me it probably won't.

Any comments??????????????
Cheers
Tom

 

I've never tried to upgrade drum brakes, but I can lock up all four wheels on my '82 GSL without any major modifications. I rebuilt the front calipers myself (not a bad job, really), and replaced all 4 rotors with a decent aftermarket replacement (stock equivalent, not ported or anything). I went with Hawk HP+ pads all around and found that the back locked up much faster with the more aggressive pad. The back end of the car tried to pass the front end every time I braked hard into a corner. Disconcerting. My solution was a Wilwood adjustable proportioning valve so I could try to dial it in so they all locked at the same time. (mine's mounted underhood, some people mount them in the console)

If you did something similar and rebuilt the front calipers and went with a more aggressive pad, and used an adjustable proportioning valve to increase the rear braking power, you can probably get to a four wheel lock up without going too crazy. Unless you're racing the car in something beyond autocross or solosprint and heat - and brake fade - is an issue, I don't see a reason that the stock calipers won't do on the front.

 

As a matter of fact I installed an adjustable brake bias controller back in the eighties when I was running regional Solo I and II in Ontario. I was using Ferodo metallic pads and shoes. The car overall, was great, winning over 100 events. For me the brakes were insufficient. Had to bleed them a couple of times a day when running at Shannonville. I had driven other cars that raced in my class and was shocked at how much better their brakes were. I am determined to track the car again soon. It is not so much about making them lock up as making them last and still brake hard. And now I am used to driving a 3 series as my daily driver. It has BRAKES!

cheers

 

Tom, come on down to Shannonville on November 4th for the Mazdees Lapping Day. I will put you into my RX7 for a session to get you back into the swing of things. I am certain you can still pedal a car with the best of them. Its all because of something you said to me on that first day that I am still doing this 30 years later. You are to blame! LOL.

Eric

 

This single post restores all hope in humainity,

 

Eric, you may have been young and impressionable back then. Had we perchance been drinking around a campfire? I refuse to be held responsible for something I said while under the influence. When we see each other, I'm gonna ask, cause right now I don't have a clue.

That is a sweet invitation! Thank you! You are likely making a few people on this board extremely jealous. However, I don't think I will be able to take you up on it. We re leaving on Oct 9, taking the RV to Road Atlanta for the Petit LeMans on the 20th. Stopping at my nephew's Nationwide shop on the way home. At the shop I am picking up a number of goodies for my RX7 refurbish. Three weeks off work and I have to winterize the RV on return and take it to storage. Still,.........??????????? BTW Bettyanne says, hi. Yea, she's still the boss!

Really, the car dosen't need much to be a nice gas guzzling street car. Redoing suspension and steering joints. Check out the LSD setup, seats, carpet and interior bits. Did find that the steering box was leaking fluid the other day. Not nice.

But, the brakes will still, suck!

cheers, Tom

 

Tom, I never drink and yes I was young and impressionable. It wasn't anything profound like, "Use the Force". I will keep it for when we meet.

Your October looks to be as busy as mine, but I am doing it for work and not for fun. Take care and if things change, PM me as the offer still stands. Hell, maybe I should roll out the WC car I have as well and put you into that. I would love to see you come to grips with 310 FWHP, a Quaife Dog Box and all the front weight bias ever built into a race car, LOL.

Eric